The Rundown (2003) Review

What Do You Get When You Combine an American Idiot, a Cosby kid and a Wrestler?

The Rundown is a 2003 action adventure comedy that answers that very question. Dewayne “The Rock” Johnson plays Beck, a retrieval expert that is under the thumb of a mobster named, Billy Walker. In order to get out of debt with the Walker, Beck is sent to Brazil to bring back the Walker’s son Travis. Once he safely brings Travis back home to Walker, than Beck will be able to start the restaurant he is always dreaming of. Wonder if they will call it “Can You Smell What The Rock is Cooking?”

So who is the complete opposite of The Rock that they could to play Travis. No other than American Pie’s Stifler, Sean William Scott. Although he is funnier than ever, he made sure his physique was nothing to laugh at in this movie. He still pales in comparison to his huge co-star but Scott certainly has hit up the gym a little bit himself. Travis states that he isn’t going anywhere near home until he gets the Gato, which is an artifact worth millions. Travis isn’t the only one after this prized jewel. So is once upon a time Cosby rug rat, Rosario Dawson who plays Mariana. Enter searcher number three Cornelius Hatcher, who is no other than the great Christopher Walken.

This is truly one of my favorite all-time movies. As Travis would say, “You want some thunder? How about some lightning?” A lot of times when action movies try to be funny, they just come off corny instead. Even worse they will be funny but lose sight of the fact they are supposed to have top-notch action sequences. This movie pulls both off with amazing ease. It truly put Dewayne “The Rock” Johnson on the map as one of the few young up and coming action stars that are out there. Andy Cheng, who is the same guy that does them for Jackie Chan movies, coordinates all the fight scenes.

There are plenty of amazing fighting scenes with my favorite to being at the very beginning of the movie and with the rebels in the jungle. As for the fight against the rebels, remember the name Ernie Reyes Jr., he is the main rebel fighter. Yes, he is really that good and that fast! He is absolutely amazing to watch. Being the reluctant fighter that he is, Beck tries to avoid the fights. “I don’t want to hurt them. They have a legitimate chance at repeating this year.” It helps to always have a little bit of encouragement from shall we say friends. “They’re little people. You can take them.” As far as I see it, you have two choices. Option A is you need to watch this movie. Option B, well, I wouldn’t choose that one if I were you. Whatever you do though, don’t ask about the monkeys.